Effect of magnesium sulfate on ventricular refractoriness and its efficacy for torsade de pointes

The effect of magnesium sulfate on ventricular refractoriness and its efficacy for torsade de pointes (TdP) were studied in nineteen dogs. After the administration of quinidine sulfate (30 mg/kg), TdP was induced by ventricular pacing in ten of 19 dogs (52.6%), polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in seven (36.8%), ventricular fibrillation in two (10.5%). Quinidine sulfate caused significant increases in QTc interval, ventricular effective refractory period (ERP) and dispersion of ERP(dERP), and decrease in ERP/QT. Magnesium sulfate significantly increased ERP (p less than 0.01), but it did not change QT interval, resulting in significant increasing of ERP/QT (0.41 +/- 0.05 to 0.61 +/- 0.05, p less than 0.01). It decreased dERP but not significantly. Magnesium sulfate prevented the induction of TdP in eight of 10 dogs (80.0%) (30 mg/kg in four and 60 mg/kg in four). In conclusion, magnesium sulfate has value as first aid therapy for drug-induced TdP. If patients have ischemic heart disease or hypertension, we recommend infusion of magnesium for the initial therapy of TdP.